ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged intending pilgrims to complete their bookings under the 2026 private Hajj scheme before the October 17 deadline, saying around 16,000 seats remain unfilled.
“Under the Private Hajj Scheme 2026, bookings for 44,000 pilgrims have so far been completed out of a total quota of 60,000,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Those wishing to perform Hajj under the private scheme are advised to complete their bookings with ministry-approved Hajj companies before the deadline.”
Pakistan has been allocated a total Hajj quota of 179,210 pilgrims, with about 118,000 seats reserved under the government scheme and the remainder for private tour operators.
Last year, nearly 63,000 private pilgrims were unable to perform Hajj due to payment delays and mismanagement by private operators, forcing the government to surrender the unused quota to Saudi Arabia.
In September, Islamabad introduced a new policy allowing applicants who face emergencies to either seek a refund or nominate a blood relative to perform Hajj the following year — a move seen as a major relief for intending pilgrims.
